The links below will take you to sites sponsored by other agencies. If you have questions regarding any of the information you find on these external sites, please contact the webmaster for that site.
Get Help Planning
http://knowhow2go.acenet.edu/
The American Council on Education, the Lumina Foundation for Education and the Ad Council launched the KnowHow2GO campaign in January 2007 to help students turn their inspired dreams into action-oriented goals.
https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/
This federal site guides aspiring students, their families, and counselors with resources that will help them make informed decisions about the critical choice of going to college.
http://www.lmci.state.tx.us/explore/TSC/ybf.asp
Your Bright Future, from the Texas Workforce Commission, can help students, parents, teachers , counselors, administrators, job seekers, and adult learners navigate the sometimes overwhelming maze of education and career planning.
www.ymca.net
The YMCA of the USA, a leader in helping young people fully develop their potential, is the first national outreach partner of KnowHow2GO. YMCAs with college preparation and teen leadership programs will be distributing information on KnowHow2GO. YMCA Black and Hispanic Achiever programs at 165 centers nationwide will be actively participating in KnowHow2GO events and contests.
www.collegeaccess.org/accessprogramdirectory
The National College Access Program Directory is a free online resource for students, parents, counselors and those operating college access programs.
www.collegegoalsundayusa.org
At College Goal Sunday, you can get free, on-site, professional assistance filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), talk to financial aid professionals about resources and the application process, and get information regarding statewide student services, admission requirements and more.
www.projectgrad.org
Project GRAD has a 10-year track record of successfully helping at-risk students make it through K-12 school systems and graduate from college.
http://www.texasrealitycheck.com/
Reality Check was created by the Texas Workforce Commission to help students understand how much money they will need to make and what careers and education is required after high school to pay for their housing, transportation, clothes and all the other things they want to have in their lives.
https://www.ecmc.org/students/realizing-the-college-dream.html
"Realizing the College Dream" is a curriculum guide that supports teachers, counselors and community-based organization staff in their work to increase the expectations of attending college by low-income, first-generation college students and their families.
Get Inspired
www.firstinthefamily.org
First in the Family is packed with useful resources and heartfelt stories from students who are the first in their families to go to college. The website guides students through the key issues facing first-generation students—from cultural conflict to academic challenges.
www.whatkidscando.org
What Kids Can Do is a national nonprofit organization founded in 2001 for the purpose of making public the voices and views of adolescents. Its website documents young people's lives, learning and work as well as their partnerships with adults both in and out of school.
www.dreamit-doit.com
The Dream It, Do It web site helps you find something you can really get into. Check out the types of jobs that are right for your skills, your attitude, your passions. Then see what jobs and resources are out there to make it happen.
Take Action
http://www.actstudent.org/
The ACT student website provides information on many aspects of planning for college, including career planning and financial aid. You can also register for the ACT and find materials to prepare for the test.
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org
Bigfuture, by The College Board, offers a variety of tools and resources to help you prepare and plan for college. Use the College Search to generate a list of colleges that match your preferences and add them to your list. Get ready for the SAT by taking an official, free practice test.
http://www.nacacnet.org/
The National Association for College Admission Counseling offers online resources for college preparation. As the preeminent provider of information related to the college transition process, the site hopes to provide the resources you need.
Find the Right College
nsse.iub.edu/html/pocket_guide_intro.cfm
A Pocket Guide to Choosing a College, from the National Survey of Student Engagement, was created as part of an ongoing public awareness campaign to refocus the national conversation about what constitutes quality in the college experience.
http://www.actstudent.org/
The ACT student website provides information on many aspects of planning for college, including career planning and financial aid. You can also register for the ACT and find materials to prepare for the test.
http://www.campuscompare.com/
CampusCompare is a free, comprehensive online resource for college-bound students searching for the school that is right for them. The website offers data on a range of topics—including academics, campus life, athletics, college trends, financial aid, scholarships and more—for more than 3,000 colleges and universities. Search, compare and connect with schools in one all-inclusive site that features a number of fun and interactive tools.
http://www.educationplanner.org/
Check out the Education Planner career assessment tool for help finding a career that suits you. You'll also find tips on completing college applications and tools to help you decide among colleges once you've been accepted.
http://www.mappingyourfuture.org/
Mapping Your Future is a resource for career, college, financial aid and money management information.
http://www.mycollegeoptions.org/
My College Options is a free service that provides students with the opportunity to create a personal online college and career planning profile. Students can match their individual needs, talents, abilities, goals and interests with the offerings of more than 3,500 accredited post-secondary institutions across the United States.
Find Money for College
www.fafsa.ed.gov
Learn all about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which is usually the first step in seeking financial aid for higher education.
https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types
The Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid programs are the largest source of student aid in America. These programs provide more than $80 billion a year in grants, loans and work-study assistance. Learn more about and how to apply for this aid.
www.fastweb.com
FastWeb is a free scholarship search service that can help students find need-based and merit assistance as well as jobs and internships.
www.nasfaa.org
The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators offers a range of resources to help students, parents and counselors navigate the college aid process.
